CCRI hosts non-opioid pain relief symposium next month at Knight Campus
CCRI hosts non-opioid pain relief symposium next month at Knight Campus
Sept. 30, 2019
The Community College of Rhode Island’s Health Sciences department hosts the Changing
the Culture of Pain Treatment Symposium Saturday, Oct. 19 at CCRI’s Knight Campus
in Warwick.
The event will take place in the Great Hall from 7 a.m. – 12 p.m. featuring a two-part
panel discussion with experts from the occupational therapy, psychiatry and community
health fields, among others, to introduce evidence-based alternative treatments for
non-opioid pain relief.
According to Prevent Overdose RI, a Task Force established by Governor Gina Raimondo
in 2015 to combat the state’s overdose death crisis, more than 300 Rhode Islanders
lost their lives to overdose each year from 2016 through 2018, peaking with 336 overdose
deaths in 2016. The short-term goal of the Task Force is to reduce that number to
160 each year.
“We are seeing a change in protocol and practice nationwide regarding the use of opioids
to treat pain, and our symposium is an important step in helping healthcare professionals
understand there are more thoughtful and far less addictive alternatives,” said Suzanne
Carr, Ph.D., RN and CCRI’s Interim Dean of Health and Rehabilitative Sciences. “There
is a whole range of treatment options available that do not involve the use of opioids.”
With 156 overdose deaths already reported in 2019, according to Prevent Overdose RI,
there is still work to be done, and the use of opioids to treat short-term pain or
post-surgery recovery is again the focus of this year’s Changing the Culture of Pain
Treatment Symposium. The goal amongst panelists is to emphasize the benefits of non-opioid
pain treatments such as clinical massage therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy and
naturopathic medicine in an effort to change the current culture of pain management.
Panelists will discuss their approach to treating pain while outlining the psychosocial
risk factors and evaluating the outcomes of integrative therapy options.
“This year’s symposium walks the attendee through safe steps to manage pain,” said
CCRI’s Therapeutic Massage Program Director and the symposium course director Regina
Cobb, MSW, BCMT. “Pain management using integrated therapies is an additional way
healthcare professionals can respond to the opioid concerns afflicting our community.”
Dr. Matthew Smith, EMHL, a clinical orthopedic professor at Brown, will moderate the
course, which begins with a presentation on Pain Neuroscience and Psychologically
Informed Care by CCRI professor and licensed physical therapist Jennifer Hurrell,
PT, MS, DHSc.
Symposium panelists include:
Nancy Dooley, Ph.D., OTR.L, Associate Professor, Occupational Therapy at Johnson &
Wales University
Ellyn Flynn, MD, MTS, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry at Brown
Victoria Moutahir, MS, BCLMT, Adjunct Faculty member of CCRI’s Rehabilitative Health
Department
Julia Twining, MSN, RN, OCN, Advanced Practice Manager at The Miriam Hospital
Jennifer Jackson, DAOM, MSOM, LMT, Ocean Ki Acupuncture
Martine Delonnay, ND, MD, Founder and CEO of DELONNAY HOLISTICS
Michael Gottfried, B.A., M.A., D.C., Chiropractic Physician, Aquidneck Chiropractic
Latisha Michel, CCHW, Newport Health Equity Zone
Jennifer Reynolds, PT, TPS, Reynolds Physical Therapy
Frank Sparadeo, Ph.D., Instructor, Department of Rehabilitation Counseling at Salve
Regina University.
Registration is $25 per person and is available online. The fee includes a light breakfast.
CCRI has teamed with the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and the
Northeast Multistate Division this year to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME)
course credits and/or Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) nursing contact hours for
registered attendees. Professionals and students in the fields of physical therapists,
occupational therapists, massage therapists, and social work will earn a certificate
of completion for attending the symposium, which they can use to apply for accreditation.
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Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) will launch the next phase of work-based learning to increase internships for students to work directly in workplace environments, gaining valuable skills and experience necessary for college and career success.
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A partnership between the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Delta Dental of Rhode Island (DDRI) is building a pipeline of highly trained, workforce-ready dental hygienists to respond to a nationwide demand for dental hygienists and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more sustainable oral healthcare system in Rhode Island.
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May 16, 2025
On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) celebrated a milestone achievement: its 60th Commencement Ceremony. Held at the Amica Mutual Pavilion, the event marked the culmination of CCRI’s year-long diamond anniversary celebration and was a stirring tribute to six decades of transformation, opportunity, and achievement for Rhode Islanders.
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Brendan Murphy, former Smithfield, RI, resident and one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the Community College of Rhode Island’s men’s basketball program, was honored recently as the college’s Athletic Alumni Award recipient at the state’s 2024–25 Scholar-Athlete Awards ceremony hosted by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi.
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May 07, 2025
Ten student-athletes from the Community College of Rhode Island were honored last week for their athletic and academic achievements as part of the annual Scholar-Athlete Awards held in House Chamber of the Rhode Island State House. The Legislative Awards are designed to provide public recognition for student-athletes from CCRI, Rhode Island College, and the University of Rhode Island for significant achievements in their academic and athletic pursuits. The honorees have also demonstrated exemplary citizenship and community service.
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The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Rhode Island College (RIC) are proud to announce the launch of a new, fully online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-to-BSN) program. This innovative partnership offers CCRI nursing graduates a seamless, affordable, and flexible pathway to earn their BSN while delivering the academic rigor and clinical relevance that Rhode Island’s healthcare system demands.
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April 29, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) has partnered with United Way of Rhode Island to establish a 211 satellite office on CCRI’s Warwick campus, expanding access to essential community resources for students. This collaboration underscores CCRI’s ongoing commitment to removing barriers to student success and ensuring students have the support they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom.
CCRI Launches Free Ophthalmic Technician Training Program
April 23, 2025
Warwick, R.I. – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) is proud to announce the launch of a new Ophthalmic Technician training program through its Division of Workforce Partnerships. This 120-hour program, beginning in May 2025, is free of charge and designed to prepare participants for immediate employment in a fast-growing healthcare field.
CCRI Foundation Elects Four New Members to its Board of Trustees
April 23, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) Foundation has appointed four new members to its Board of Trustees. We are honored to welcome these four distinguished leaders to the CCRI Foundation,” said Rosemary Costigan, Ph.D, RN, Interim President of CCRI. “Their diverse backgrounds, deep ties to the community, and shared dedication will support us in advancing the college’s mission of access, equity and opportunity.
CCRI and Rhode Island Energy partner to launch free utilities career exploration program
April 17, 2025
The Community College of Rhode Island and Rhode Island Energy are teaming up to offer a free exploratory program designed to give participants a window into the growing utilities industry.
Introduction to Utilities – free to anyone who meets eligibility requirements through funding from Rhode Island Energy – is a seven-hour introductory course that provides participants with foundational skills and knowledge to explore career pathways within the utilities sector, specifically with Rhode Island Energy.
Four CCRI Faculty Honored with NISOD Awards of Excellence
April 10, 2025
Warwick, RI – The Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) proudly announces that four distinguished faculty members have been recognized with the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Awards. The recipients, honored for their exceptional dedication to student success and academic excellence